According to Vision Consulting director Gábor Török, Fidesz has gained far more from the Socialist Party’s mistakes than they have through their own initiatives, and interview with index.hu revealed. Although the Socialists’ competitiveness with Fidesz is lower than it was a year ago, they have managed to gain some ground on the main opposition party in the second half of the year.
Part of the explanation for this is that the Socialists have abandoned a strategy for winning the next election, and are now focused on merely surviving them. Török added that the Socialist Party’s current popularity owes more to their own missteps than the opposition’s strategy, as they’ve failed to properly explain their austerity program to the population and have allowed to opposition to lead the discourse on the matter.
In terms of Fidesz, Török felt the party spent too much time trying to force new elections instead of looking toward the future, something it has finally started to do. The current financial crisis, however, will have less of an impact than some observers expect, since economic conditions do not have a great bearing on party preferences.
Török also criticized Fidesz’s response to the financial crisis. He said that instead of presenting themselves as a more competent alternative to the Socialists, Fidesz have instead tried to send the image that they could minimize its effects on Hungary.
The rise of Jobbik, however, would be a boon to the Socialists and to the Democratic Forum and Free Democrats as well, as fear of this party could spur many voters to vote for the Democratic Forum or Free Democrats as a buffer against the far-right. The only clear loser from the rise of Jobbik would be Fidesz, as votes for Jobbik would come from those who would vote Fidesz otherwise.
Just how much support Jobbik actually has will be revealed in the European Parliamentary elections this summer.
It’s not surprising that Fidesz is benefiting from MSZP’s mistakes.
In most democracies, governments get defeated, rather than elected.
But the really, really, good news in this is that the right wing and the extreme right wing are going to split the vote, ensuring a win for more moderate political parties, likely the Socialists.
Interesting that a party like MSZP can be so politically correct, yet lack any traces of ethics and decency.
Guys,for christs sake,show me a tantamount difference between today’s Fidesz and the Mszp.They are almost one and the same by design,just like ‘no change’ Democrats and Republicans,or Labour and Conservative–all 2 main parties in all western ‘democracies’ operate from the same guidelines,their really is no ‘right’ or ‘left’ to a large degree.
Stop worrying about ‘far right’ etc.. and seek a real change instead of been sheep.
Ricsi, I have to agree, and taking your advice, I’ll be voting for the Worker’s Party (Munkáspárt) in the next election. If anyone has experience running a one-party dictatorship, it’s them and not Jobbik!
Ricsi,
If Joe wants MSZP, it cannot be good.
Seriously, you know very well that “real change” just like “real democracy” are pure fiction.
These days politicians are only interchangeable puppets, decisions are made by special interest.
We have allowed for banks and multies to take over, now they will run the show.
The public have lost faith in the system, they don’t even care enough to vote any more.
Go to the streets to protest, you’ll get gassed and beaten up by the Gestapo. Have an opinion and you’ll be treated as extremist, racist, anti-semite, nazi, etc. It’s a closed system, the people no longer have any legal ways to change it.
Until the majority of people understands what’s going on, the best we can hope for is not “real” but at least some change. FIDESZ looks a little better than MSZP, so we’ll take it, not because it’s good, but simply as a measure of survival.
It may gives us time to sort out where we are and what we can do about it.
MunkásPárt, LOL, you will be on your own !!
You are turning the clock back,not forward my friend.
Stan,
I am mostly in agreement with you,except I am not as optimistic about the possibility of changes under Fidesz–though anything would be better than this den of lying,cheating ex-commies.
“lack any traces of ethics and decency” Stan what are you talking about?
@IBS
Your are joking, are you that stupid !
Hotpaprika,
How are the mozzies treating you?
Please translate your last comment into English. There seems to be some serious cognitive dissonance in your syntax if not in your cortex. Thanks a bunch, mate.
“Just how much support Jobbik actually has will be revealed in the European Parliamentary elections this summer.”
A vote for Morvai is a vote for Hungary, not the Jobbik. People may “cross part lines” to vote for her. She deserves the support, Hungary needs a voice in the EU, not just another useless member.